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    • Migraine & Headaches
    • Guide
    • Overview & Facts
      • Headache Basics
      • Symptoms & Diagnosis
      • Causes & Triggers
    • Types & Complications
      • Types
      • Complications
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    • View Full Guide

    Overview & Facts

    1. Headache Basics

      1. Headaches Basics

        There are over 150 types of headaches, and they can be more complicated than most people realize.

      2. Your Guide to Migraine Headaches

        Migraine is a neurologic disorder that often causes a strong headache.

      3. Glossary of Migraine & Headache Terminology

        As you get treatment for migraine, you’ll need to learn a new language when it comes to symptoms and types of headaches.

      4. Headaches in Children

        About 1 in 5 school-age children and teens are prone to headaches. The most common type in kids are tension headaches.

      5. Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Migraines

        If you get migraines or other serious headaches, you’ll need to work closely with your doctor to get the relief you need.

    2. Symptoms & Diagnosis

      1. Headache Symptoms

        Although not all headaches are the same, they have at least one thing in common: pain.

      2. Migraine Symptoms by Stage

        A migraine can be complicated, with symptoms that change over hours or even days. They tend to move through stages.

      3. Common Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

        A migraine is a type of headache with symptoms that can differ from those of non-migraine headaches.

      4. Headaches & Nausea

        Headache and nausea are common, and they can happen to you at the same time. 

      5. When to Call a Doctor

        When you have new migraine symptoms or problems that are more severe than normal, it’s worth talking to your doctor.

      6. CT Scan for Headache Diagnosis

        A CT scan can sometimes help doctors diagnose headaches and their causes.

      7. MRI for Headache Diagnosis

        An MRI can give doctors information about the structure of the brain and brain chemicals to find the cause of headaches.

      8. Spinal Tap for Headache Diagnosis

        A spinal tap can help doctors diagnose disorders that may involve the brain, spinal cord, or their coverings (meninges).

      9. EEG for Headache Diagnosis

        An EEG, or electroencephalogram, is a test that records the electrical signals of your brain.

    3. Causes & Triggers

      1. Causes & Types of Headaches

        They’re annoying, even painful, but most headaches aren't dangerous and are easy to treat with a basic pain reliever.

      2. Migraine Causes -- Why You Get Migraines

        Doctors aren’t sure what causes migraine headaches. They think imbalances in certain brain chemicals may play a role.

      3. Headaches Caused by Exercise or Sex

        It has been found that most exertional headaches are benign and respond to usual headache treatments.

      4. Foods That Trigger Migraines

        Studies have proven only a few foods, or things in foods, seem to bring on headaches in a lot of people.

      5. Alcohol & Migraines

         If you're prone to migraine headaches, drinking even a small amount of alcohol can bring on an attack.

      6. The Link Between Caffeine & Headaches

        It’s possible for caffeine to both cause and cure a headache.

      7. Migraines Triggered by Tyramine

        Certain foods and drinks -- or things they contain -- can trigger a migraine. One well-accepted trigger is tyramine.

      8. Weather as a Migraine Trigger

        Could weather play a role in headaches? One idea suggests that a headache is a warning about hazards in the environment.

      9. How Allergies Cause Migraine Headaches

        How do allergies cause migraine headaches? The link is complex. Doctors are still trying to figure it out.

      10. Medication-Induced Headaches

        All medications have side effects, and sometimes a headache is one of them.

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